“Sorry to say, but it’s the reality we deal with,” she said. “We have several factors that could lead to an uptick in extremist violent activity. That’s all that report was designed to do.”

“We do not exist to infringe, impinge or invade anybody’s constitutional rights of free speech, of free assembly or anything else like that. We exist to protect the country against the homeland [sic] consistent with the United States Constitution,” Napolitano explained. “In there is where that product was created and what it was designed to do. Nothing more, nothing less.”

She returned the subject later in her remarks.

“There is one thing I regret about that report and that it is being read by some to suggest that all veterans of our military services are somehow at risk of become extremists and committing violent acts in the homeland. My department is filled with veterans,” Napolitano said. “There is no department that believes in our veterans more strongly than the United States Department of Homeland Security. Nonetheless, I concede where some would interpret this report in that way. So I reached out to the leadership of the American Legion who raised this concern today and said let’s get together next week — clear the air.”